The author of the European Parliament’s report on the new Energy Efficiency Directive, Polish MEP Adam Gierek, proposes to dismantle future EU energy efficiency policy and promotes measures that would extend the life of coal power plants.
This report, which was published on Friday, is supposed to be an initial proposal for the European Parliament’s position on the new Energy Efficiency Directive for the period 2021-2030. The proposals in the report would shift investments aimed at helping citizens and small businesses to reduce energy waste, towards retrofitting measures in power plants and subsidies forbig energy producers. Furthermore, the report suggests removing provisions related to emission standards under the future Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), which would allow Member States to continue subsidizing coal power plants through the ETS.
In reaction to the report, Wendel Trio, Director of Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe said:
“This report is almost too bizarre to believe, especially considering how important energy efficiency is in the fight against climate change and the implementation of the Paris Agreement. If this proposal were to be adopted, it would mortally wound EU energy efficiency policy. It is largely incomprehensible, would throw efficiency policy into disarray, and worst of all, it would provide a lifeline to ailing coal power plants in Europe. The Parliament has no other option than to completely reverse the direction of this report in accordance with earlier resolutions in favor of 40% energy savings target by 2030.”
The report will now be discussed in a session of the Energy Committee on 20-21st June.
ENDS
Notes:
- Draft report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency
- Draft opinion on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency
- European Parliament resolution of 23 June 2016 on the implementation report on the Energy Efficiency Directive (2012/27/EU) (2015/2232(INI))
Contacts:
Wendel Trio, CAN Europe Director, wendel@caneurope.org, +32 473 170 887
Ania Drazkiewicz, CAN Europe Communications Coordinator, ania@caneurope.org, +32 494 525 738
Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe is Europe’s largest coalition working on climate and energy issues. With over 130 member organisations in more than 30 European countries – representing over 44 million citizens – CAN Europe works to prevent dangerous climate change and promote sustainable climate and energy policy in Europe.
